Automatic back water valve



Feb. 12, 1935. w. cHARPlER AUTOMATIC BACK WATER VALVE Filed Oct. 21, 1932 M4 ff@ CHAP/wf@ Patented Feb. 12, 193s n 1,991,081`

, t u '1,991,081g.y Y QAUTOMATIC: BACK `WATER VALVE y e #Walter Charpier, Chicago,` Iller Application October" 214, 1932, Serial No. 638,942

` "ZCIaima (61.182446) This invention relates to an improved-,autoillustrating particularly theiioat, gate valve and `matic back;watervalve,V landyhas for onefof its controllingV motor. t y n t Fprincipal objects theprovisioneof an automati- Figure 2 is another view of the `device taken cally operating" valve rwhich will positively preate-right*y anglesto the showing of `Figure 1, and

5 vent undesirable backing up of sewer water into Villustrating the relationship of the iioatptothe `Eg' basements or other portions ofresidences or: the gate valve andthev construction o f safety means like in i times'of heavy rains; floods, and `sirxiilar whereby thevfiloatis secured against `undesirable emergencies. f d' f interference'from/sedimentorvotherfforeign ob- Oneofltheimportant objects oft-thisinvention jects inthe water; 'n n t i Y 1,0 is .tovprovideja-safety `valve forprevenimg `Figure 3 isa diagrammatic view illustrating-a l0 desirable backing up of v'bewege water whichtshall preferredv embodiment `of ,the` motor operating be at all times inacondition forimmediate and `andcontrol means andV showing :particularlythe -successful `operation and;` which shallf be free relationgofparts vvliei'ebythey gate isautomatifrom'vinh'erent defects which: might retard or ca llyclosed when `iiood water` backs up intolthe i5 prevent the automatic features; y drain andlagainfis automatically. openedwhen i5 Another object `of the inventionzis-toprovide the Awatervsubsides. y l t t l a positively `operating means such` asma motor e As shownin the drawing;y t in/conjunction with acioat` and agate Avalve t "The reference numeral 10 indicates generally `wherebywhenthe float is raised above a certain the casing'v of the improved automatic backwater i levelby the `'backing t, up of `sewer water Vor `the valveof this invention, thevtsame being provided 20 like, the :motor will beimmediatelyoperated to withA a lid or capu12 `whichuis secured in position positively close the gatev valve` and keep it closed onithe casing by means of bolts Aonthelike V14. yuntilthe-flood--has subsidedfwhen the motor will In and `upon'this cover'12 is mounted a control again `be actuated to fopen the valve, thereby floatli and itsoperating stemls, the gate valve t againproviding free drainage from the building. `20,9416, .its operating rack 22,` and the motive 25 Another and still further important lobject'of `power l:Metagether with all connections and op- `the invention `residesin the' provision of an `erating: switches, @the same `being assembledyin automaticback :water prevention valveI of ..this suchuva, manner that theentire device as a `unit type which shall be" composed of a minimumlof may `be removedfrom` the casing and again as `partssimple in operation.andnotlikely-to get "readily-applied. Y i t .3o

outfof order, andwhereinthe moving parts; are t. `The casingis provided .with the usual intake JWfew Vand `free from. expensive and cumbersome pipe` or `iittingy 26. andan outlet `pipe28 which accessories,- and `wherein therdevice:iszfurtherwvso are preferably in alignment witheach other,` vconstructed asmto positively avoid GQIIOS'OL and .the chamber `for the oat `16 being at oney side Aa5 Subsequent Sticking-0r ih-undesirableecwnii- `:ofthe :easing 1e es beetiuuetretedretao inrig- 35 lation of sediment with corresponding leakage. m `2, but-au being .closed by ,the common Op A stillfurther andadditional object fof Athe of @ver 12.` t 't t invention is the profison :inawgummtidmbk 4Adjacent ythe juncturebfthe inletpipe: 26 to Water prevention Valve if thstype of in-unitary 4the easing-*io is provided e gate valve 2o which 40 assemblage of operatinglelementswhich isreadig no? l ny mraised or open position as vind? Vilyaccessble at: all times forv purposes. ofinspec- .t d mpi resti tand 2 l so as to allow free -tionrmaintenance and repairs; and `the..further 95? of, t. g. tervnd the like from, the provision of a Structure Which-is. so designed as "ixit gipegiareviagh the easing 1o and thence mbe-"omni the Way andnotlsumecv-twham 'throughfthe outlet 'pipe 28' and te the main lvfromfextraneous causes.` t t d ,t sewer t t y n il Other and further important objects. `'oft-the e p t Y, e invention-will beA apparent; frOmthediScloSures ,The gaf' chambgrolstsepamted from t'fhe in the accompanying drawing @ndvjfonowing `main casmg'lo by means of an interior parti ion "specification,` or the` like 32., a. portionfof which comprises a `5() The invention in a preferred .formfis shown screening or the like 34, which is vpreferably of 50 in the drawing and hereinafter morefully deperforated `brass or other con-corrodible metal scribed. Iso that the same will Valways function properly,` In the drawingr t t t i `'t and which, while `allowing free access ofewater Figure `1 a side e1evauen ef; ,theeimreved to the neet, winprevent the entry into the neet automatic backwater valveof this invention, chamber .oflsticka ieave @Dfi-moth? COSBQI" o5 eign matter and sediment which would interfere with the proper operation of the iloat 16.y

The stem 18 of the iioat 16 passes through a suitable over-sized opening 36 in the ycover 12 so that its free movement is always assured, and when the float is in lowermost position, escape of sewer gas or the like through this opening 36 is prevented by means of a suitable washer or the like 38 fixed to the float stem 18. Another washer'40 is mounted' on the iloatstem in the casing 30, and when "the ii-oat israised bythe backing up of flood water or the like, this is moved up against the opening 36, thereby preventing w `when the valve `reaches the bottom of its travel leakage of back water therethrough.4 In` this manner, a positively free operation of the float is assured at all times and undesirablestickingis absolutely` prevented. A A gear wheel 42 is mounted on the shaft of the motor 24, and this gear is in continuousengagefl ment with a rack 44 forming Vpart of the operatiings'ter'nY 22 Vof Vthev gate valve 20, the operating stem 22 and its associated rack being lmaintained in Vmesh with the gear fat-all times 'by means of a suitable' bracketor the like 46fmounted 'onthe cover 12. i

' So long as there is nol undesirable height of Water in the casing or-y pipes, the vfloat remains in its lowermost position, and the mechanismis vnot operative, the gate remaining open'. However, should the 'water the casing jrise tof anV -undesirable heightfdue `to the backing fup 'ofy flood water inthe pipes or tovs'ome other cause, the oat 16-and itsassociated stem are raised, and it willbenoted that thefupper end of the stem 18 projects into the casing 50 which isalso mounted on the cover plate 12 in conjunctionwith the motor and other elementsjand which casing 'contains the necessary switches and controls for lthe entire-device. f 3

" A' I'he 'casing 50 is mounted jc'gn'su'pportingv bracketsorV the 1ike`52, and it /will-befbvious' thatv the length-of these brackets maybe varied as desired 'to4 meet different conditions met'within the application and installationof devices of vthis sort, andfthe-motorI supports, len`gth ofv float stems, 'gate valve rods,getc. may'also be varied sofV as to allow the entire mechanism to bel positioned at different Al'ieights above the 'valve p ermitltingl of ease of `installation,maintenancefand A also providing against undesirable `contact with and consequent damage tol the -mechanism by foreign objects which maybe accidentally moved there-against or from yany-other cause.r4 yIn fact, the entire mechanism may bepositioned4 at a cons'iderablev distance -from the valve Aitself,rif such '.a remote control is desired or necessary. s Upon the raising of the float 16 to'a predetermined heig'ht which occurs-upon the backing up .of flood'water into the system, the upperend of the stem contacts an Velectric switch lor the like 54 vwhichv closes acircuitin a current-carrying wire 56 to an adjacentwire 58 leading; to the motor 24, and from where a further wire lleads to a brush `:62;mounted aga-inst a contactplatejor commutator element 64 aixed to the upper end ofthe stem 221'of the gate valve 20.l This contactplate is insulatedfrom the stem 22 and has a suitable current-carrying wire 66 leading therefrom t-o themain powerA Yline or the like. Accordingly,

'when the switch 54 is closed, the' motor 24 isop` erated in a desired direction to force the gate valve 20 throughithe gear 42 and rack 44 downwardly v into position vto closel'thefentrance `to'the inlet pipe 26m y It will be noted that the gate valve 20 is Wedge- 'of motors may be employed. It will be evident that herein is provided an eration.

shaped so as to afford a sliding closing fit which positively eliminates leakage and which also operates in such a manner as to automatically eliminate any accumulated sediment or the like which may have been deposited on the valve seat during periods of non-use. A space 68 is provided at the lower end ofthe valve seat wherein such accumulated sediment may be forced by the valve and subsequently washed away while at the same time allowing of a positive closing 'oi thellentrajnce to the pipe 26. In -this *manner,undesirable sticking and leakage of the valve is positively prevented.

l`The length of the contact plate 64 is such that and is firmly'positioned inv its seat '70, the vupper ,end of the contact plate 64 will ride out from beneaththe brush 62, thereby breaking the source `of' current supply to the motor 24and stopping anyfurther downward movement of the valve. This condition remains as long as the float is in position to keep the switch 54 closed, butwhen the float drops slightly `owing to a receding of--the ood waters,-` theswitch 54 is again opened by means of a spring or the like 72 as shown in Figure 3. l 'Y v` `vWhen thel oat has again reached its'normal level, a switch element 74positioned adjacent its upper end contacts with a corresponding switch element 76f allowing current fromfany intake lline '78 to passthi'oughvthis connection intofa current carrying 'wire V80 which leads vto a brush or the like 82 whichinthe lowerinos't positionoffthe gate and associated stem22 is in current-carrying association with a Contact plate 484 mounted on and insulatedv from the stem 22. 'l A A Vwire 86 leads from this contact platefto the motor 24 which ispreferably ofthe reversible type so that current flowing vthroughthev switch connections-7476 and 82--84 will-act to raise the Agate'valve 20 again,` opening the entrance 4of the intake pipe"26 for `normal operation. (The length ofthe contact plate 84- is such that when the gate has again assumed its uppermost normal position, the lower end of this contact plate rides out from under ythe brush 82, thereby shuttingv off vrnotorwhen the same has turned through a reiuired or predetermined number of revolutions, Fand ifv a` reversible motor is not desired or is lfound impractical owing to operating conditions, a pair automatically operating back waterV prevention Avalve whichrequires absolutely no attention and which willpositively operate whenever necessary,

and which, furthermore, is relatively vinexpensive `andcan Vbe easily installed, and when'i'ns'talld, willsoon Vreturnthe initial investment inl the savingfeffected by the prevention of untold dam-l age which continually results from flooded basements andthe like. The ordinary check valves after periods of non-use, and when the emergency arises, will be found to have become corroded orotherwise unfit for the necessary op- Additionally, no manual control of the lvalve 'ofthe prsent invention is necessary or required,

"and after it is initially installed, there -need be no attention paid to it save an occasional oiling n or cursory inspection. e e

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction varied throughout a wide rangewithout departing from the principles of this invention, and I, therefore,- `do not purpose limiting the `patent granted hereon otherwise than as necessitated bythe prior art.

I claim as my invention: e

1. An automatic back water valve,`inc1uding a oat, a gate and means operated bythe rising of the float toclose the gate, and operated by the falling of the iioat to open the gate, said means comprising a reversible motor, and switch means operated by the float and valve stems for initiating and stopping the motor operation, said switch means including a contact for the upper 4 .end of the float stem for initiating the motor operation to close the Valve. and a further contact onthe float stem for opening the valve when the float is in lowermost position, together `with contact platesof` predetermined length on the gate valve supporting stem for halting the operation of the motor after a movement of the gate valvethrough a predetermined distance.

2. An automatic back water valve, including a end' of the float stem for initiating the motor operation to `close the valve, and a further con- 'tact on the float stem for opening the valve when the float is in lowermost position, together with contact plates of predetermined length on the gate- Valve supporting stem forr halting the operation of the motor after a movement of the gate valve through a predetermined distance in either direction. t i

WALTER CHARPIER. 

